Pianoforte.



' No 645,342. Patented Mar. I3, I900.

J. C. WARD.

PIANOFORTE.

Model (Application filed Dec; 27, 1897. Renewed Deg. 31, 1898.) 3 Sheetssheet l Fig.1.

Patented Mar. I3,- I900.

J. c. WARD. PIANUFORTE.

(Application filed D sc. 27, 1897. Rene wed Dec. 31, 189B.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

mi. you; PETERS so, FHOTO-LI'YHO. wAsumumn. o, c,

Patented Mar. l3, I900.

J. C. WARD. PIANOFOBTE. (Application filed Dec. 27, 1897. Renewed Dec.31, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

STATES UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CHARLES lVARD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PIANOFORTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,342, dated March13, 1900.

Application filed December 27, 1897. Renewed December 31, 1898. SerialNo, 700,857- (No model.)

To all whom, it nuv/ concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN CHARLES WARD, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at London, England, have inventedImprovements in Pianofortes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in pianofortes of the kindin which the strings and mechanism appertaining to the notes A, B, Cfi,D14, F, and G are placed on one side of the frame, while the likeappliances proper to the notes Ali, G, D, E, Fit, and Gfi are placed onthe other side thereof, and the keyboard is arranged above, so as to comman d equally well the mechanism on both sides of the frame.

One object of my present invention is to render the tuning or wrest pinsin pianofortes of said kind more accessible to the tuner thanheretofore. Also by my present invention I am enabled to simplify themanufacture of such instruments by dispensing with the long wrest-pinshitherto required to pass through the wrest-plank in connection with thestrings on the rear side of the frame. Furthermore, by this invention Iam enabled to secure the advantage of freer egress to the tone of theinstrument by way of the top. To obtain these results, I place thewrest-plank in a horizontal position, or nearly so, on the top of theframe and arrange the wrest-pins in the plank in a vertical position, ornearly so, and in conjuntion with this arrangement I employ keys andtheir auxiliary levers so reduced in width for a portion of their lengththat the implement employed for tuning purposes may pass downconveniently between them to reach the tuning-pins. \Vhere desirable, Ialso provide openings in the key-blocks for the same purpose.

In order that others skilled in the art may be enabled to make and usemy invention, I will now proceed to more particularly describe it withthe aid of the accompanying illustrative drawings, whereof- Figure 1shows a plan of the lowest octave of the keyboard of one of myfullcompass pianos of the minimum length and in which the bass'key blockis left intact, an arrangement which in this drawing incidentally servesto indicate in two instances the length of the openings required in thekeyboard where the instrument is tricord. Fig. 2 is a transverse viewshowing the means employed according to the present example for workingordinary upright-pianoforte actions in connecr' tion with mypianofortes. Fig. 3 is a plan of the auxiliary levers with recessedpart, so that the instrument employed in tuning may be passed down andengaged with any one of the wrest-pins.

The keys (1 and dare centered at their farther ends (4 In the middle ofeach key is a regulative screw b. To the front of the screw 1) each keyis recessed for a certain distance to about one-half of the usual width.The recess in the one key faces the recess in the next one, thus formingthe openings 0, through erate the auxiliary levers b while the black keya represents all the other keys, whether black or white, which operatethe levers b and the wrest-pins are arranged so as to show the form ofwrest-plank requisite where the instrument is tricord.

The keys at and a are shown strengthened at their farther ends byincreased depth of material. Obviously they may be elsewhere sostrengthened, while by the use of metal instead of or in conjunctionwith wood in their manufacture greater strength may be obtained in thekeys concurrently with enlargement in the openings 0 0 0 The screw 1) inthe middle of the key bears upon the sticker b. This is hinged to theauxiliary lever 6 which carries the rod 19 The latter is attached at itslower end to the bottom lever of the action employed on the front sideof the instrument, which it operaies when the key is depressed. Theaction on the rear side is operated in exactly the same way by means ofthe auxiliary lever 17 on the depression of the key a.

For the guidance of the tuner the positions of the respective wrest-pinsare indicated on the keys at o c.

Beneath the auxiliary levers Z2 Z1 and placed horizontally on the top ofthe frame d is the wrest-plank d, (clothedin metal,) holding thewrest-pins A, B, Ohin its fore part and Ali, G, D in its rear part. Theauxiliary levers 12 19 are each recessed in width for a portion of theirlength, as shown at b so that the implement employed for tuning purposesmay be passed down and conveniently engaged with any one of thecorresponding wrest-pins. The position of the recessed portion of eachlever is directly below the recessed portion of the key above it.

From the wrest-pin A the string e is shown passing to the stud c andlikewise from the wrest-pin A5 the string e is shown passing to the stud6 Obviously the strings may be made to pass to the reverse sides whendesirable.

Guide-pins(n0t shown in the drawings) are employed when requisite.

When openings 0 c are made in the basskey blocks and the instrument isnowhere tricord, the wrest-plank need not be overhanging.

My invention may be carried out variously, according to the form of theframe, wrestplank, or wrest-pins employed, or as the keyboard may befixed or movable, without departing from the distinctive characters ofthe invention, and it is also evident that various changes might be madeand modifications resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to theconstructions set forth or shown.

What I claim is 1. A keyboard for pianofortes provided with unobstructedopenings extending vertically therethrough and located above wrestpinsbelow, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. A keyboard for pianofortes provided with openings such as c and 0formed in and located between adjacent keys, substantially as describedfor the purpose specified.

3. In a pianoforte in which the strings, and the appliances for soundingthe same are on both sides of the frame,and the keys are above, thecombination of a wrest-plank placed approximately in' a horizontalposition on the top of the frame, with a keyboard provided with openingsfor giving access to the wrestpins; substantially as herein describedand shown.

4. In a pianoforte the combination of a frame, a wrest-plank placed inor approximately in a horizontal position on the top of said frame,strings at both sides thereof, appliances for sounding said strings, anda keyboard constructed with openings adapted to afford access to thewrest-pins, substantially as described.

5. In a pianoforte in which the strings and the appliances for soundingthe same are on both sides of the frame and the keys are above,

the combination of a wrest-plank placed approximately in ahorizontalposition on the top of the frame with auxiliary levers Z7 Z9each reduced in Width for a portion of its length adjacent to thewrest-pins whereby the implement employed for tuning may be convenientlyengaged with the corresponding wrest-pins, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN CHARLES WARD.

VVit-nesses:

PERCY E. MATTOCKS, EDMUND S. SNEWIN.

